OT: Pennsylvania's Potato Chip Culture....

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

Sort of ties into the convenience store thread (which is mentioned in this article - Sheetz and Wawa in particular) but eating lunch at my desk after hitting up the very excellent Taylor Gourmet hoagie shop near my work in DC (founded by two guys from Philly) I noticed they serve Herr's potato chips. I then sort of thought, 'Hm - how does one state have so many damn potato chip companies? Utz, Herr's, Wise, Snyders' of Berlin, Snyder's of Hanover....? As a kid, one of the best things about coming home to visit was that my grandmother would always have a huge bag of Snyder's of Berlin potato chips in the 'snack' closet and I loved them because I typically couldn't get them where my dad was stationed (Hawaii, Japan, North Carolina, South Carolina...).

Turns out there are a few reasons/theories for this potato chip haven in the Keystone State - some related to the convenience store culture, Pennsylvania Dutch, and Pennsylvanians appetite for snack foods. Pretty good read.....

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/pennsylvania-potato-chip-snacks

Utz was featured in an episode of Mad Men too.

 

[NedFromYork]

Martin's Kettle Cooked are the best.

 

[Woodpecker]

Don't forget

 

[Gnat91]

Middleswarth BBQ.... And it's not even close.

 

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

Don't forget

Is that like, a bucket of chips?!

 

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

Middleswarth BBQ.... And it's not even close.

This wasn't a 'which one is the best' thread, but I see the Pavlovian instinct here is to act otherwise.....

 

[PSU Dave]

Martin's Kettle Cooked are the best.

Gibbles, cooked in lard are pretty darn good. The best damn chip ever made was Golden Sun. Sadly went out of business many years ago.

 

[83wuzme]

Used to work in Hanover. You could always smell the chips in the air.

 

[ILLINOISLION]

I remember as a kid many many years ago living in Camp Hill having a truck deliver Charlie’s Chips.

Just googled, found they are still around, recognized the tin container immediately.

 

[OhioLion]

Ballreich chips from the Findlay, OH area.

OL

 

[PSU Dave]

This wasn't a 'which one is the best' thread, but I see the Pavlovian instinct here is to act otherwise.....

Branching out is something we do well on this board. You'll come to notice not everyone has the same sense of direction though.

 

[ILLINOISLION]

Branching out is something we do well on this board. You'll come to notice not everyone has the same sense of direction though.

So Chambers can’t coach track either?

(Looks like a Benny Hill event!)

 

[TheGLOV]

Sort of ties into the convenience store thread (which is mentioned in this article - Sheetz and Wawa in particular) but eating lunch at my desk after hitting up the very excellent Taylor Gourmet hoagie shop near my work in DC (founded by two guys from Philly) I noticed they serve Herr's potato chips. I then sort of thought, 'Hm - how does one state have so many damn potato chip companies? Utz, Herr's, Wise, Snyders' of Berlin, Snyder's of Hanover....? As a kid, one of the best things about coming home to visit was that my grandmother would always have a huge bag of Snyder's of Berlin potato chips in the 'snack' closet and I loved them because I typically couldn't get them where my dad was stationed (Hawaii, Japan, North Carolina, South Carolina...).

Turns out there are a few reasons/theories for this potato chip haven in the Keystone State - some related to the convenience store culture, Pennsylvania Dutch, and Pennsylvanians appetite for snack foods. Pretty good read.....

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/pennsylvania-potato-chip-snacks

Utz was featured in an episode of Mad Men too.

This IS delicious topic!

{CRUNCH!}

 

[psuro]

Middleswarth, but I prefer the plain. Just like it better.
Gibbles would be second. Not a close second, but second nonetheless.
When I was very young, we lived near Berwick and would go past the Wise potato chip factory to go to Stuccio's Pizza.
It all started then.

 

[ThePennsyOracle]

I spent a lot of time at my grandparents growing up, and their property directly abutted Wise Potato Chips.

It might sound sacrilegious growing up that close to Wise....but Middleswarth are and have always been my favorite. BBQ is #1 but jalapeno isn't far behind. Also a big fan of Gibbles.

 

[ThePennsyOracle]

Middleswarth, but I prefer the plain. Just like it better.
Gibbles would be second. Not a close second, but second nonetheless.
When I was very young, we lived near Berwick and would go past the Wise potato chip factory to go to Stuccio's Pizza.
It all started then.

Stuccio's? Yuck.

Tuzzi's all the way.

 

[jup540]

Middleswarth BBQ are the GOAT potato chip.

Hartley's plain/bbq are a close second though.

 

[BoulderFish]

This wasn't a 'which one is the best' thread, but I see the Pavlovian instinct here is to act otherwise.....

Well, if you're going to have a thread regarding PA's potato chip culture, it's just logical to mention/include the fact that PA's potato chip manufacturers also includes the one that makes the universe's single best potato chip (Middleswarth BBQ).

Not doing so is like starting a thread about BWI's fastest sprinters, and not mentioning how I (thecoolestfish/BoulderFish) am the absolute fastest. That would just be... well, weird.

 

[BBrown]

Sort of ties into the convenience store thread (which is mentioned in this article - Sheetz and Wawa in particular) but eating lunch at my desk after hitting up the very excellent Taylor Gourmet hoagie shop near my work in DC (founded by two guys from Philly) I noticed they serve Herr's potato chips. I then sort of thought, 'Hm - how does one state have so many damn potato chip companies? Utz, Herr's, Wise, Snyders' of Berlin, Snyder's of Hanover....? As a kid, one of the best things about coming home to visit was that my grandmother would always have a huge bag of Snyder's of Berlin potato chips in the 'snack' closet and I loved them because I typically couldn't get them where my dad was stationed (Hawaii, Japan, North Carolina, South Carolina...).

Turns out there are a few reasons/theories for this potato chip haven in the Keystone State - some related to the convenience store culture, Pennsylvania Dutch, and Pennsylvanians appetite for snack foods. Pretty good read.....

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/pennsylvania-potato-chip-snacks

Utz was featured in an episode of Mad Men too.

Snyder of Berlin was the bomb. They used to have some of the best BBQ and Jalapeno chips around.
One of the reasons was all the potatoes were from the Berlin area.
Sadly its been taken over a few times and their quality is not what it used to be.
They also used to have some "dark" chips that were excellent.

 

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

Well, if you're going to have a thread regarding PA's potato chip culture, it's just logical to mention/include the fact that PA's potato chip manufacturers also includes the one that makes the universe's single best potato chip (Middleswarth BBQ).

Not doing so is like starting a thread about BWI's fastest sprinters, and not mentioning how I (thecoolestfish/BoulderFish) am the absolute fastest. That would just be... well, weird.

I'm not familiar with Middleswarth....

I'm Cersei in this gif, the hecklers are BWI board members...

 

[BoulderFish]

I'm not familiar with Middleswarth....

 

[PaFootbalGuy]

Gibbles, cooked in lard are pretty darn good. The best damn chip ever made was Golden Sun. Sadly went out of business many years ago.

Love the Gibbles. They make you sweat grease for 2 days.

BBQ Middlesworth are an icon, but I never liked them as much as everyone else seems to.

 

[psualt]

BBQ Middleswarth was always the favorite growing up. BBQ Middleswarth Ket-L Cooked...now that is my #1. Does anyone even eat the plain?

 

[JoeLion]

Wise BBQ. Enough said!

 

[Limestone_Lion]

Gibbles and Middlesworth (BBQ).. Nothing compares to those.. My grandfather will sometimes use the middlesworth BBQ chips as the "breading" on fried fish. It is actually pretty damn good.

 

[PSU65]

Sort of ties into the convenience store thread (which is mentioned in this article - Sheetz and Wawa in particular) but eating lunch at my desk after hitting up the very excellent Taylor Gourmet hoagie shop near my work in DC (founded by two guys from Philly) I noticed they serve Herr's potato chips. I then sort of thought, 'Hm - how does one state have so many damn potato chip companies? Utz, Herr's, Wise, Snyders' of Berlin, Snyder's of Hanover....? As a kid, one of the best things about coming home to visit was that my grandmother would always have a huge bag of Snyder's of Berlin potato chips in the 'snack' closet and I loved them because I typically couldn't get them where my dad was stationed (Hawaii, Japan, North Carolina, South Carolina...).

Turns out there are a few reasons/theories for this potato chip haven in the Keystone State - some related to the convenience store culture, Pennsylvania Dutch, and Pennsylvanians appetite for snack foods. Pretty good read.....

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/pennsylvania-potato-chip-snacks

Utz was featured in an episode of Mad Men too.

Love Taylor Gourmet. The 2 guys that started it, David Mazza and Casey Patten, not only were from Philly but graduated Penn State.

 

[Mister Magoo]

Don't forget

They changed their formula on BBQ a couple of years ago. Not as good as they were.
More tart than sweet now.

 

[Carl Spackler]

Used to live in smelling distance of Herr's in Nottingham, enjoyed the cheese puffs often.
I'm a long time Snyder's of Berlin, same name as mine and grew up on them. Still would love to have several bags of them, maybe as we travel to see the grandchildren we can make a pit stop in Somerset on the Pa Tpk., dreaming.....

 

[Cletus11]

There is a pretzel company in England called Penn State Pretzels. Had a friend text me a picture last year while over there. Looked it up and found the following:

Puzzled Penn Staters have seen pretzels adorned with their favorite university’s name in stores across the United Kingdom and even as snacks on transatlantic flights. We might be known for football and ice cream in Happy Valley, but I’ve never heard of our school being known for salted, knotted snacks. So why the Penn State name for these tasty little treats?

According to the Penn State Pretzels brand’s website, the company is widely known in the UK and was the first to bring an authentic “American-style” pretzel to the region back in 1996. When Union Snacks decided to start making pretzels for its UK customers, Pennsylvania was the only place to go. The state was a popular settling spot for many Pilgrims who brought the pretzel recipe with them from Europe, and the first pretzel bakery was opened in the state soon after settlement. As we all know, pretzels are a favorite all across the country, but the Penn State Snacks website says that Pennsylvania eats 12 times more pretzels than any other state.

According to customer service, the Penn State name was created when the owners of Union Snacks — then the pretzel brand’s parent company — went to buy their first pretzel extruder from Reading Bakeries and came up with the idea…from the name of the state, not the school. So, sadly, these pretzels have no relation to Dear Old State. The company says it has never had any contact with the university.

While we haven’t managed to get our hands on the pretzels just yet, they come in a promising range of flavors, including Original Sea Salted, Smoky BBQ, Sour Cream & Chive (so British), and Honey & Mustard. Penn State Snacks also sells limited edition pretzel flavors like Maple Bacon and a variety of other snack products like corn chips.

Judging from its website, Penn State Snacks is feeling pretty good about itself these days, boasting their product as “the best pretzels on the market.” Want to nibble on the famed snacks yourself? The official Penn State Snacks website is currently undergoing a redesign, but previous versions had an online store to purchase them. In the meantime, an online food store is still selling the Penn State brand.

 

[YYZ86]

Middlesworth BBQ is one of the major food groups. The absolute best.

 

[Sam Spade 80]

I went on a tour of Herr's factory last year and thought it was very interesting. Of course, it is very automated. The machines take a pile of potatoes and turn them into baked chips in something like ten minutes. Pretty cool to watch.

 

[step.eng69]

I spent a lot of time at my grandparents growing up, and their property directly abutted Wise Potato Chips.

It might sound sacrilegious growing up that close to Wise....but Middleswarth are and have always been my favorite. BBQ is #1 but jalapeno isn't far behind. Also a big fan of Gibbles.

As a young business guy and entrepreneur (paper boy), the money I didn’t save, was used to buy Yoohoo chocolate drink, Tastykakes and Wise BBQ chips at the corner s tore. The Wise BBQ chips were my favorite along with Charlie’s tins. I could sit for hours and lick the bbq seasoning off the
Wise Chips. (Probably what turned me into a caring lover). When Borden took over Wise, the BBQ chips started their downward spiral to becoming a substandard BBQ flavored chip...my opinion.

 

[Carl Spackler]

But I still do have an occasional Wise BBQ chip, better than others.

 

[psu1969a]

Don't forget

I would love to forget them. Only thing you can buy at BJC or Beaver Stadium anymore.
Much prefer Wise or Utz .

 

[PSU Dave]

As a young business guy and entrepreneur (paper boy), the money I didn’t save, was used to buy Yoohoo chocolate drink, Tastykakes and Wise BBQ chips at the corner s tore. The Wise BBQ chips were my favorite along with Charlie’s tins. I could sit for hours and lick the bbq seasoning off the
Wise Chips. (Probably what turned me into a caring lover). When Borden took over Wise, the BBQ chips started their downward spiral to becoming a substandard BBQ flavored chip...my opinion.

Love it Step! I betcha that Yoohoo probably came out of a machine that looked something like.....

 

[Tom McAndrew]

An earlier discussion on this board that also got into brand preferences, at THIS LINK

 

[83wuzme]

When I was living in Hanover, the Snyder’s plant burned to the ground. It did produce an interesting smell.
I would bet the Utz people were secretly elated.

 

[ThePennsyOracle]

As a young business guy and entrepreneur (paper boy), the money I didn’t save, was used to buy Yoohoo chocolate drink, Tastykakes and Wise BBQ chips at the corner s tore. The Wise BBQ chips were my favorite along with Charlie’s tins. I could sit for hours and lick the bbq seasoning off the
Wise Chips. (Probably what turned me into a caring lover). When Borden took over Wise, the BBQ chips started their downward spiral to becoming a substandard BBQ flavored chip...my opinion.

I don't disagree with you at all. I've never been a fan of any Wise chip--cheese doodles, yes. Chips? No.

Whoever owns the company now is doing a really good job with things and they've been hiring like crazy over the past several years. Distribution is getting wider too--during my Maine trip this year I stopped off at a mom & pop gas station in the middle of nowhere. To my amazement, Wise chips were front & center in the snack aisle.

 

[RedBankerEngr]

I remember as a kid many many years ago living in Camp Hill having a truck deliver Charlie’s Chips.

Just googled, found they are still around, recognized the tin container immediately.

Charles Chips

In 1942, Effie Musser was making a batch of her delicious potato chips in her small rural Pennsylvania kitchen and had a great idea. Si, her husband and farmer by trade, was having difficulties raising enough money to keep them afloat, so she thought of a way to create some additional income. Effie realized that she might be able to take these favorite family treats Effie to the famous Central Market located in Penn Square in historic Lancaster, Pennsylvania and maybe sell a few bags. Founded in 1889 and known for its handmade Amish goods not sold anywhere else, the market is the oldest, continuously operated farmer’s market in the United States. People came from all over the world to sample the food and buy the wares. Soon, the word got out about these amazing potato chips and Effie couldn’t keep up with the demand. Then, a snack distributor from Baltimore, MD contracted Effie for her to deliver her chips in bulk to him. He repacked the bulk chips into his branded tin can and renamed them Charles Chips after Charles St in downtown Baltimore. While the potato chip business started to thrive, his other businesses were not as fortunate. He decided to let the chips fall where they may and avoid bankruptcy. Since Effie was his largest creditor, he chose to sell his assets to her knowing she could keep this brand alive. In fact, under Effie’s eye, the potato chip business was generating more revenue than the farm. Eventually, Si joined Effie in the business and hired a tenant farmer to do the farm chores.

By 1946, production had grown from their small residential kitchen to a 50 foot by 250 foot cement block building. At the time, Si and Effie were producing private label potato chips for Fritos and A&P while building the home delivery concept with Charles Chips.

In the late 50’s, Si and Effie expanded the Charles Chips brand to include Charles Pretzels and Charles Cookies and in the years ahead developed a Christmas Holiday Gift program.

In 1962, a new plant was built in Calhoun, KY to service the mid-west and south.

Charles Chips continued doing home delivery as a mainstay until the early 1970’s when home delivery became less profitable. With falling profits and fewer orders, the company decided that it was time to turn their company into a retail company. They began developing packaging for selling Charles Chips in a retail setting. The chips were then marketed to grocery and convenience stores.

By the late 70’s, Charles Chips began distribution all the way to California.

By 1990, wholesale revenues for the company had exceeded $45 million.

In 1991, Effie Musser and her husband sold Charles Chips to some Philadelphia investors; however, within 18 months the new company went bankrupt.

Charles Chips was then sold to a Tampa, FL popcorn company in 1993, but again this new company also went bankrupt.

Hillside Snacks from Arlington, NJ bought the Charles Chips trademark in 1996, and started to market the potato chips under a new recipe. During this time, the company no longer manufactured potato chips but licensed the brand to several Charles Chips distributors who have been given permission to sell the chips.

The company was all but forgotten about until the Scardino family purchased the company in early 2011. Being true fans of the brand, they wanted to recapture the true essence of Charles Chips and bring back the famous tins filled with all of the original recipes.

Relaunched in December 2011, you can now purchase classic recipes, ORIGINAL, BARBEQUE, WAFFLE, and the Lancaster flavor inspired MINI TWIST PRETZELS. Look for your favorite flavor to be one of our featured items. Eventually, Charles Chips will be launching more and more products including CHARLES COOKIES. A whole new generation of Charles Chips Fans will be able to taste the joy that came from Effie's kitchen back in 1942. As we celebrate our 70th Anniversary, look for Charles Chips to be bringing more and more joy in their famous tins!

 

[vops]

I remember as a kid many many years ago living in Camp Hill having a truck deliver Charlie’s Chips.

Just googled, found they are still around, recognized the tin container immediately.

Bought a tin in the grocery store and not nearly as good as remembered. All the York County chips are great, especially the fresh ones from farmer's market. The Lancaster county chips cooked in lard are to die for!